steering column issue

zilla68 · Nov 12, 2012

today I go out to start my truck and the damn ignition sticks on, although the key is turned off and/or removed. damn near burned up my starter, it was smoking something fierce until I pulled 2 battery cables loose.
It did this many many times, it was down in the 30's last nite and I didn't plug the truck in.

Does this sound like a keyswitch issue, or something else? It only does this when cold, in the summer, it never did it, but when it gets cold it does this, did it last year once or twice, then summer came and no issues.

thanks for the help

SPEEDDEMON31176 · Nov 13, 2012

Chris for future reference, if you pull the small wire off the fender mounted relay that should stop the starter from being engaged. Only two things can cause the issue you have. Either the ignition switch under the dash on the column is sticking due to cold weather(most likely) or the fender mounted relay is sticking for some reason. Either way it is a cheap fix.

zilla68 · Nov 13, 2012

thanks, you wouldn't have a schematic of the ignition switch would you, so I know where to look, I'll just replace both, and thanks again, it was a very tense few moments to get the truck to quit cranking.

Redpower · Nov 13, 2012

It is the white box at the base of the column. I think there are 2 torx screws that hold it in. I would bet thats where your issue is.

zilla68 · Nov 13, 2012

ok thanks I'll go check it out now.

so if it does it again, I should be able to see the white box not returning back to the closed or off position?

Redpower · Nov 13, 2012

I can't remember for sure, but I think the switch is spring loaded and pushes the rod from the key back from start to run.
I would unbolt the switch and manually run it back and forth to see if its sticking. (unhooked)

zilla68 · Nov 13, 2012

ok, I found it, its right where the plastic cowl sits, but this morning after my truck was plugged in all night, fired up first shot, no sticking or issues. Kinda got me stumped now, and it was colder than the night before.

Redpower · Nov 14, 2012

You got to love it when that happens. If it is the ignition switch sticking, you should be able to manually pull the key switch back to "run" instead of the spring pushing it back.

There is some type of grease in the switch to help the parts slide. I know when I had mine out it was all gummy. I ended up replacing mine because I thought the switch was bad. (it wasn't) Might be worth taking it out quick and looking at it.

zilla68 · Nov 14, 2012

ok I will check that, thanks for the help.

JD3020 · Nov 14, 2012

I'm in for what grease we should use. My ignition isn't sticking, but its really gummy. Actually have the column half torn apart in my school parking lot as i think the upper bearing is about to go out, again. :doh:

zilla68 · Nov 18, 2012

well I haven't done anything at all but left it plugged in, and it fires every time without sticking, after sitting for at least 12 hours over nite at near freezing temps. Not sure what direction to look now.

Redpower · Nov 18, 2012

Interesting..... not sure what to think of that. I would still take a look at that switch. I think I have one laying around the garage. I will see if I can find it and take a look at it.

JCart · Dec 6, 2012

Not sure if this will help. Relay (passeger fender) went out on my truck one time and it acted like this. Was in drive through when it first happened.... Hahaa was exciting, got to the pick up window turned off the key.... Kept running so I intentionally stalled it. Got my Timmy's coffee fired it up sounded weird (starter kept runnin), pulled into parking area to check it out turned off key.... Kept runnin, intentionally stalled it again, tapped on the relay and it shut off the starter. Iirc fired it back up tapped on the relay and was a le to get to next town to buy a relay and starter. Put on the relay and it fixed it.

Weird that your's is impacted by the cold? Does the key return to the run position easily on it's own? As noted above could be the column switch (white box) or the linkage from the key tumbler (nylon rod) runs from key inside column to white box.

jrc

zilla68 · Dec 6, 2012

JCart said:
Not sure if this will help. Relay (passeger fender) went out on my truck one time and it acted like this. Was in drive through when it first happened.... Hahaa was exciting, got to the pick up window turned off the key.... Kept running so I intentionally stalled it. Got my Timmy's coffee fired it up sounded weird (starter kept runnin), pulled into parking area to check it out turned off key.... Kept runnin, intentionally stalled it again, tapped on the relay and it shut off the starter. Iirc fired it back up tapped on the relay and was a le to get to next town to buy a relay and starter. Put on the relay and it fixed it.

Weird that your's is impacted by the cold? Does the key return to the run position easily on it's own? As noted above could be the column switch (white box) or the linkage from the key tumbler (nylon rod) runs from key inside column to white box.

jrc

yes it returns with no problem, but keeps cranking

zilla68 · Dec 30, 2012

well damn it is back

zilla68 · Dec 30, 2012

well I went ahead and replaced the starter and solenoid and the relay on the fender.
I replaced the relay first and it still hung open, wouldn't shut off, so unless the new relay is bad (which I read on the advance site that many still hung open although new), it was something else.
I replaced the starter, and although I didn't see any melted wires thank god, I did smell burnt plastic something fierce. I"m guessing it was the solenoid.
new starter on, it started in less than 1 turn, its never started that damn fast. I thought it was a fluke, so I shut it off and restarted it about 5 times.
Is it possible the solenoid could cause it to stick in the on position?

It's starts like crazy now, hopefully it will end my issues of the hanging starter, because I was close to running it into a wall, lol.